A gender-specific mechanism for pair bonding: Oxytocin and partner preference formation in monogamous voles.

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that central administration of vasopressin but not oxytocin facilitates pair bonding in the monogamous male prairie vole. This study tested vasopressin and oxytocin in the formation of the female vole's preference for a particular male partner. Initial studies showed that in monogamous female prairie voles (but not in nonmonogamous congeners), mating was followed by a partner preference that endured for at least 2 weeks. Nonmating prairie vole females developed a partner preference following oxytocin infusions, but not after vasopressin or cerebrospinal fluid infusions. Females given a selective oxytocin antagonist showed normal mating behavior, yet failed to develop a partner preference. The vasopressin antagonist failed to block partner preference formation in mated females. These results suggest that oxytocin, released with mating, may be critical to formation of a partner preference in the female prairie vole; this contrasts to vasopressin, which appears to be more important for pair bonding in the male of this species.

Dopamine D2 receptor-mediated regulation of partner preferences in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): A mechanism for pair bonding?

“…As expected from previous studies (Insel & Hulihan, 1995;Williams et al, 1994), 6 hr of cohabitation with a male without mating did not induce a partner preference in female prairie voles. Control females (injected with saline) spent roughly equal time in side-by-side contact with the partner or a stranger (see Figure la).…”

“…Mating-induced partner preference appears to be associated with pair bonding in prairie voles, as mating does not induce a partner preference in the closely related, promiscuous montane vole (M. montanus; Dewsbury, 1987;Shapiro & Dewsbury, 1990). The neural mechanisms underlying partner preference formation may include, but are not limited to, reward, memory formation, and sensory processing (Insel & Hulihan, 1995). Because dopamine has been implicated in each of these mechanisms (Blackburn, Pfaus, & Phillips, 1992;Bozarth, 1991;Wise & Rompre, 1989), we hypothesized that mating-induced partner preferences in prairie voles may be mediated by a dopaminergic process.…”

The neurobiology of social attachment: A comparative approach to behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurochemical studies

“…A reliable behavioral index of pair bond formation in the laboratory is the development of a preference for a familiar mate (partner preference) (Williams et al, 1992b;Winslow et al, 1993;Insel et al, 1995a). This preferential affiliation can be quantified using a partner preference test, first developed in the laboratory of Dr. Sue Carter (Williams et al, 1992b).…”

“…It has been demonstrated that 24 hours of mating and cohabitation between an adult male and female prairie vole reliably results in the formation of a partner preference, as indicated by the subject's preferential affiliation with its familiar partner versus a conspecific stranger (Williams et al, 1992b;Insel et al, 1995a;Insel et al, 1995b;Aragona et al, 2003). In contrast, 1-6 hours of cohabitation without mating is insufficient to produce a partner preference in this species (Williams et al, 1992b;Insel et al, 1995a;Insel et al, 1995b;Cho et al, 1999).…”

“…In contrast, 1-6 hours of cohabitation without mating is insufficient to produce a partner preference in this species (Williams et al, 1992b;Insel et al, 1995a;Insel et al, 1995b;Cho et al, 1999). This paradigm has become useful in pharmacological studies investigating the neurochemical regulation of pair bonding.…”